on contemplating travel and why slow is sometimes not best!

I'm thinking it's time to plan a wee holiday. To grab a good book, pack my bag, and go somewhere pretty.

Me being the nostalgic soul I am though, I started pondering the experience of travelling to new and exotic destinations in the 19th century. Let's take a moment to consider the tedium that is today’s long-haul flight, and then take a further moment to consider that the fastest recorded trip from England to New South Wales in the 19th century was undertaken by clipper ship Thermopylae in 1868, and took a mere sixty-three days! SIXTY-THREE days! Not to mention scurvy, rats, and other general unpleasantness!

Even with the scurvy and rats, travel was quite the luxury back then and required dedication, time, and a healthy source of funds. But these restrictions also meant that travel for many was a serious pursuit. Exploration wasn’t just leisure and adventure (although I am sure that was of great appeal) it fuelled discovery. It fed curiosity and uncovered wonders. It highlighted the astounding diversity of our world.

If I were to travel purely for discovery and learning, it would be straight to the Palais Galliera and Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, and then perhaps across to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Although to be fair, the trip I currently have in mind is out to the Wimmera... a little less exotic! 😆

Where would you go?

meg.